Yet another British actor in Jason Flemyng, seen earlier this year in Clash of the Titans and in Matthew Vaughn’s latest movie Kick-Ass has joined the cast of X-Men: First Class as another mutant character. Flemyng will play Azazel, a demonic mutant who happens to be the father of Nightcrawler – the blue teleporting mutant who played a key role in X-Men 2.
In the books, Azazel impregnates Mystique (played by Jennifer Lawrence in X-Men: First Class) and she gives birth to Nightcrawler, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see some sort of story arc involving their relationship in First Class. Azazel is very similar to Nightcrawler in that he can teleport as well but in the X-Men comics, he also possesses other powers such as the ability to shapeshift and fire bolts of energy. I would expect he’ll be de-powered quite a bit for the sake of the movie and be restricted to teleportation like his son.
Coming Soon was present at Movie-Con where Fleyming revealed his involvement and details about his character during the presentation for Ironclad. He explains that he’ll be in heavy make-up as he was for Clash of the Titans and like Alan Cumming was when he played Nightcrawler in X2. He also says that his character will have a tail, again like Nightcrawler, and that it’ll be added in post-production.
Created by writer Chuck Austen and artist Sean Phillips, Azazel has an otherworldly history, which may or may not be a bit extreme for the X-Men prequel movie. In the comics, Azazel explains that back in biblical times the Neyaphem, demonic mutants such as he, fought with the Cheyarafim, angelic mutants who were far too zealous for their own good (think Angel but with an attitude). Azazel went around impregnating lots of women and eventually taking control of his children (including our very own Nightcrawler) and using them to open a portal to his dimension to release his demonic mutant brethren. His goal was to have them help wipeout the Cheyarafim and let his people live freely in the world as we know it in the standard X-Men comic universe. As always, the X-Men came to the rescue, following Nightcrawler, and prevented him from succeeding.
Azazel is a cool character to explore in an X-Men film but I’m curious as to how much of a role he and his backstory will play, especially if they will not be using the characters of Angel and Nightcrawler in the movie. If he’s just thrown in there for the sake of it, it’d be a bit of an unnecessary waste but at least they can tie it into Nightcrawler’s history. That or his history will be vastly different from that of the books.
Is it just me or does this cast seem to be jumping all over the place? X-Men: First Class begins filming in less than three weeks and we still don’t know who will be playing Cyclops and Jean Grey…
Either way, it makes me very interested in finding out what the story will be about and what villain Kevin Bacon will be playing. This news, like the recent news of Kick-Ass composer Henry Jackman signing on to score First Class, is yet another example of director Matthew Vaughn sticking with people he knows and British talent. Flemyng, having played a small part in Kick-Ass earlier this year, also played roles in Stardust and Layer Cake for Vaughn previously.
Share your thoughts in the comments and with us on Twitter @rob_keyes and @screenrant.
X-Men: First Class stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Alice Eve, Nicholas Hoult, Caleb Landry Jones, Lucas Till and Jennifer Lawrence. It’s currently still set to hit theaters June 3, 2011.
Source: Coming Soon
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@”Is it just me or does this cast seem to be jumping all over the place?”
No, it’s not just you. I’m beginning to think that ‘First Class’ is gonna suffer from having too many mutants (ala X3).
So it looks like FAUX still hasn’t learned they’re lesson. That’s a good thing.
Is it me or does news like this continue to make this film less interesting? The story is already too convoluted because of the mess fox made with the character choices and this doesn’t help imo. Just throwing random mutants in this will not bring me out to see it. Who’s next Longshot, Pixie, X-23? Heck throw Mojo in there lol
Please no Mojoverse! That’s the one big negative in the X-Men universe for me. I never liked Mojo…
@Rob,
Maybe you should read Wolverine early 90s #51-53. See, the string theory of time travel has to do with the double infinite number 88 as shown in Donnie Darko(and Back to the Future) and is very interesting in general. Now, what’s really cool(in general but mainly those Wolverine issues) is appendage-wise Mojo has two arms and six legs…Spiral(Mojo’s spacetime sidekick) has six arms and two legs…a very subtle 88 effect right there. And I love how they use tornadoes in the issues to represent the portals(hence the name “Spiral”). Oh, and I also loved the evolutionary first X-Men game for Sega Genesis where you had to reset your game system in order to move forward from Mojoverse. Hmmmmmm…great stuff. Of course, the animated series episode with Mojo was kiddishly unappealing but hey, that’s FAUX
Why the hell are you people judging this movie, just wait until June of 2011 to say bad things about it.
“Is it me or does news like this continue to make this film less interesting?”
No it’s not you . Most of us here have differing opinions on a lot of things regarding the movies but the majority here feel almost the same way about the X franchise. It’s not being handled well at all. Is this character a villain that could play a key role in fixing some of the problems in the franchise? He’s supernatural, at least in the histories. That kind of character could lead to allot of license with where the story goes, perhaps enough for an X-patch to the series. Is that some kind of vain hope on my part? No, just a thought is all. I guess it does reveal one thing, I consider a repair story of more interest than any other possible X-Men story. Does Fox listen to me? Heck no. Will this movie get any interest? Maybe in the most die hard fan or 13 year olds and younger that haven’t seen much of this material, except watching the movies. I really think the assumption is that fans don’t matter because they will consume almost anything. So they’ll shoot for a 3 star rating and if it gets stamped 1 to 3 they figure they’ve succeeded with the fans. Wouldn’t surprise me if this wasn’t shot for a PG rating either…
@Old Man,
Yeah, you’re right. Fox probably doesn’t listen to anyone but Bill O’Reilly. BUT, Matthew Vaughn has said publicly X3 sucked. He tried to subtley imply the X-Franchise was suffering. He actually quote for quote said the “superhero” franchise was dying and got flack for it. (sighs) He’s not going to straight out just say it’s the X-Men who were getting used wrongly. Anyways, whatever. I loved Kick-Ass and that secondary writer Jane Goldman seems genuine. So here’s to high hopes(fingers crossed into a X)
You hit the bullseye on that one Alkaline! They must consider old Bill the last word on anything that matters. Matt’s got his work cut out for him that’s for sure. I know they’re suppose to start shooting this month but it might not be too late for him to pull out. The next month should either be uneventful or very informative regarding First Class…
I think the only thing that can save this franchise is, aside from Fox giving up the rights to marvel, having an X-Men 4 being about Bishop coming back from the future and fixing the wrongs that happened before Jean became Phoenix, and destroying that whole mutant cure crap.
Sounds good to me.
Maybe Bishop should go back in time and kill the Fox executives
THIS One is for the FUTURE!!! lol …
Btw, i don’t know if anyone else knows, but the photo showing Evans as Cap and the audio from the trailer are both now leaked online to youtube
If you mean The Avengers teaser trailer, we already have that up.
http://screenrant.com/avengers-trailer-comic-con-rob-71992/
No, no, The First Avenger. You guys should totally hire me or something lol. On youtube the audio track is up(the quality is good but it flutters alot) and also there’s a separate 1 minute long video simply showing him in costume. It looks good too.
Search “the first avenger Captain America photo” and it should be from Rupestre300. For the audio track, search Captain America Footage Audio and it should be from MarvelFreshmanTV. I hope you guys get that photo before anyone else
Banging head against brick wall and lol. There is no way in the world I am paying to see this.
@XGuest LOL! I don’t even know if I’m going to waste a Sunday afternoon watching this on bootleg. Faux just keep getting themselves deeper and deeper into more caca asquerosa with this. I do hope that it gets worse though. I hope they top out at about $70 million and decide to let the franchise go.
Rob, thx for the background on the character. Save me the time of having to look elsewhere.
Biggest prob I have with this film is that I think its a waste of time to show these Superhero’s growing up in what might as well be High School MusiXal 3.
I just don’t want to relate to this crap. Give me an adult X_Men film or give me death. Wtf.
Don’t care if Kick Ass guy is directing. Its the content that’s not wanted. Don’t care for the X boys to X men, tween angst.
i agree with you 790..no need for this kinda kiddie stuff
Its frustrating to see a film like X-Men have to pander to a PG-13 ratings board and fanbase.
Think how awesome this film and even Avengers would be if they were HBO productions. Forget the ratings and go for realism!!!
Ah man those films would be the stuff!
Yeah, HBO was awesome with the Spawn series.
790, yep, good call..too many things are held back by that damned rating, its a shame..blame lucas and spielberg though!!
(Just putting this out there as a rant!)
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Look at how lame the “Fantastic Four” films were. Wow, how lame can it get? No why? because they were written/dumbed down (PG-13) for the 12 year old fans…
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Imo,,,Superhero films like Watchman, and Kick Ass, are realistic because they “don’t” draw the line at the F bomb or cover up the blood and carnage.
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Its mentally hard enough sometimes to suspend reality with Superhero films TDK, Iron Man,,,.
When the dialog and overall tone is real, (Rated R) its more believable. That equates to an overall better film.
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Its bS! Imo!, the “Political Correctness” power that the MPAA ratings system has over this industry is killing the creativity in the Superhero genre, not to mention other mainstream genres.
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Because of this bS MPAA ratings system set to protect the children, (What a butt load that is when a rated R film can be purchased by anyone on dvd in a matter of 3 months later) we adults get screwed out of some great films!!!
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So you have the MPAA doing everything they can to propagate the lie of protecting the children, (to keep their jobs) in effect crippling the creative source of the industry.
Congrats!
Its total bS that this group of judgemental MPAA motards in reality, steer some of the greatest creativity into the ground! Ala: X Men First friggen Class.
They (MPAA) subvert creativity at the same time promote family values.
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Is subverting creativity a family value??
I rest me case!
lol XD hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
790, could you imagine a PG-13 rated Carnage movie?? HELL no
Way to go 790, you’re on fire!
Loved your rant. It makes perfect sense to me.
It sounds like they’re planning an epic number of storylines that’ll be used in the x-men movies AFTER this one. I’m impressed with their planning.
Plus, we’ll already know who these characters are when their plot comes up, freeing up the screentime for everything else.
i still don’t get it….the first class was; cyclops, jean gray, angel, iceman, beast and prof. x
which universe are they using?
Their own Roger they can’t use many of the comic “First Class” stories…
I am with Roger on this one and BIG!!! SCREW UP!!!!I already can see this already and hey!! How about anyone one else out there?? Has anyone noticed ..Night crawler should be a young man..this guys too old..i loved Alan cumming as night crawler ..i am big X-man fan as you get.. i have the classic X-logo tattooed over my left beat ..This seems more and more disappointing it progresses ..they should keep it as it should be as Roger said..People they’re not at many X-students in Te beginning already they are screwing this whole thing up..My daughter will be grown before they get it right.LMAO!!!!!!!!!!
OK so i jumped the gun ahead after reading..Well Anyway i still think nightcrawler should be younger..but he has no troll early in the beginning..there’s no nightcrawler in Early x0men years..i still stay on the point though..this film so Afr looks too screwed up.I still say Bacon is not the right actor to play Sinister…..
No Rogue your first instincts were RIGHT. I think you were comparing this guy and trying to reconcile him being with Rebecca Romijn and yeah that’s way wrong! The character is supernatural though, so he might be playing a more pleasing form to Mystique. We don’t know how Fox will handle Mystique when they get around to reintroducing her. Maybe in Fox’s version these three characters Mystique, Azazel, and Nightcrawler are way older than they seem?? Especially Mystique and Nightcrawler in “X-2.” This is so messed up, it’s really hard to understand where they’re coming from.
I find it confusing ..and there’s too much their jamming into it .i just have this feeling at this film will suck and will have spirit of anything we would expect from the true X-men ..I am already losing interest the more i read news of it..and i have to say I’m greatly disappointed ..despite what others say or think..I enjoyed all 3 X men movies including WOLVERINE..You’ll realize profession X is not dead, cyclops is not dead neither is Jean grey..they are transported to alternate world/reality ..read the comics guys!!..What threshold had done was simply pick up from where the story left off. But noooo! they have to go screw it all up..that’s the messed up part..WE really do not need x-men first class..really we do not..i would rather see the continuation stories..hell it would be real col for an Apocalypse story line.
well, considering that its getting jammed packed with nearly every damned superhero(im exaggerating i know)there is gonna be serious flaws in the filming, but what do i care, thety wont get my money either way
Some pretty good actors are joining the crew, but as Matt said, this movie might suffer from an overdose of mutants like X3. And isn’t Bryan Singer producing? I hope that has a good lasting effect on it.
Anthony, all this crap we are dealing with today, began in 1963 after JKF was removed from office.
The criminal traitor presindent Lyndon Johnson, made JACK VALENTI, his chief White House news associate after he was sworn in on Air Force One.
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In 1966, Valenti, at the insistence of Universal Studios chief Lew Wasserman, and with Johnson’s consent, resigned his White House commission (on paper) and became the President of the Motion Picture Association of America.
Together Valenti and Wasserman orchestrated and controlled how Hollywood would conduct business for the next 36 years. In 1968, the motion picture ratings system was born. (Thanks for the censorship jerk!)
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During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Valenti became notorious for his colorful attacks on the VHS player.
Jack and his MPAA feared the VHS home video player, would devastate the movie industry. He famously told a congressional panel in 1982, “I say to you that the VCR is to the American film producer and the American public as the Boston strangler is to the woman home alone”.
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Don’t let Valenti’s foolish remarks fool you. The MPAA is and always has been about controlling and shaping the media we have today.
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In 1998 Valenti lobbied Congress, for the controversial Digital Millennium Copyright Act, arguing that copyright infringement via the Internet would severely damage the record and movie industries. His effect on internet copywritten material lives on today, as we see the Web slowly clamping down with all kinds of new laws being passed…
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In 2003, Valenti found himself at the center of the so-called screener debate, as the MPAA barred studios and many independent producers from sending screener copies of their films to critics and voters in various awards shows circles…
(Funny, in his early years he constantly claimed the MPAA had no power to influence studios, yet we can clearly see the guy was a liar and absolutely corrupt with power.)
Under mounting industry pressure and a court injunction, Valenti backed down in 2004, narrowly avoiding a massive and embarrassing anti trust lawsuit against the MPAA.
^
The only good news I leave you with is that he’s dead now and if there’s a hell, I hope he’s sitting in the front row!!!
You suck Valenti!!
Your a disgrace to this country !!!
Ok rant over!!!
790, man we really gotta meet up for beers lol. you sound just like my gramps, he and you would definately get along great. i never liked the MPAA. but i hold to this day Lucas and Spielberg responsible for that lame PG-13 rating….remember the Temple of Doom scene where baldy pulls out the heart..yep..that scene outraged parents enough to cry foul. the first victim of the new rating was Red Dawn if i remember correctly.
well, this is some cool news. I was wondering if they were going to explore Mystiques relationship to Nightcrawler. Im honestly hoping they bring in Destiny too, to give Mystique more depth.
WHERE IS STOOOORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Exactly Xavier.. Storm is one of the first to join Xavier’s school or perhaps then Xavier’s small group..like i said so far this all looks FUBAR to me….
Fubar is being nice rogue-x!!!!
lol! i trying to tone down a bit..loil
Haha we meet up for beers every night.
If I’m ever in San Diego, we should def hook up. Or if you come up to LA. Let me know.
^
Yeah it wasn’t so much Speilberg and Lucas I blame but that’s cool. I’m sure they were both disgusted that they even had to be a part of it. The ratings system is hated by every director I know.
Its all a big politically correct fraud anyway.
PG-13 is really just the new Rated R without the f bombs.
Regular PG I would call PG-13. Its all bs!
well, it was thier movie that caused it, anyway yeah if im ever up in LA sometime soon, we’ll have to hang out
I don.t drink but would love to hang with 790 ..lol sounds like fun:)
Back at yeah Rogue-X, maybe one of these days we can meet up at Comic Con?
Have a big Screen Rant meet & greet??
that would be fun. i dont do costumes though!, those are for ninnies!
NINNIES! WHO ARE YOU DR,SMITH!..Takes guts wearing a costume in public..bet you cant do it..lol!!!!
why yes i am DR. Smith, who leaked that sensitive info? i’ll have their head!!
really, i didn’t mean i thought it would suck, i just don’t get why they’re calling it first class. it’s not even close…call it something else, no prob. an xmen movie..cool…i’m game.
but we are not fools!
It’s only “First Class” in name. Fox decided to exploit it, because they saw fit to reimagine Magneto and Professor-X’s story. It’s Marvel all hollowed out and filled with fake Fox wood…
Yes it’s only a pseudo X-Men film, an impostor, a counterfeit at best.
Also my condolences and respect to your husband Rouge-X, I also lost a father in vietnam…
No matter how much I rip on the conspiracy angle of life. I will never disrespect our troops. May they all come home soon!
I never get to marry Martin..and he never had the chance to see his daughter..I get all pissed when people talk bad about our guys over seas..thanks for your kind thoughts xxxooo
Haaha yeah I don’t wear costumes, but do wear some badass New Balance sneeks.
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I love the folks that do though. I love the fans that have that much passion and balls to wear their favorite super hero outfit. Pirates, Federation dweebs, BSG Viper pilots, Stormtroopers, and especially the little kids wearing the costumes. There was this little kid dressed as Darth Vader one time at a convention that was just hilarious. He was doing the breathing. Ah you had to be there!
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I also remember this one time at a ST con, this girl wearing a (Star Trek) Red field dress, carrying a tombstone. It was great! She ended up winning the costume contest it was so hilarious.
Fyi, the Klingons are always tipping before noon,,, if you get my drift, and always happy to pose for photos!!!
OH! I have lots of costumes and i wear them sometimes just going on man errand to get a kick out peoples reactions..you would love my latex ribber outfits..lol
every year i go to the Con here(i didnt go this year damnit)its always cool to see people dress up, its just not for me. if i WAS to don a costume….it’d be Kurt Russells most iconic character
790..the BEST costume ive ever seen at the Comic-Con was a few years back, some dude dressed up as Dark Helmet…complete with the oversized helmet and all, it was totally classic, he was the hit that day there.
What’s next X-Boys the preschool years.
Rated PG-13
i’d rather see Grumpy Old Xmen:The Depends Years. PG-13, but seriously not for the easily grossed out